Yilan Nurse Accuses Patient of Harassment, Hospital of Neglect

A female nurse in Yilan County has accused a male patient of sexual harassment and threats, leading to her resignation due to the alleged passive response from her hospital. The incident occurred in December last year when the patient allegedly made inappropriate comments about her appearance and then touched her chest while she was measuring his blood pressure.

According to the nurse, identified as Ms. Li, the patient initially asked if she had a boyfriend and commented on her figure. Later, during a blood pressure check, he repeatedly touched her chest. She reported the incident to the head nurse on duty, which reportedly displeased the patient.

Two days later, the patient allegedly confronted Ms. Li outside the hospital, verbally abusing her and issuing threats. He warned her not to encounter him outside the hospital, stating he would find someone to assault her during her commute. Fearing for her safety, Ms. Li reported the incident to the police. The ordeal left her physically and mentally exhausted, prompting her to resign in February.

Ms. Li also claimed that during the prosecution, the patient falsely accused her of seeking money and threatened to sue her for fraud, while never admitting fault. She stated that the legal proceedings, which have lasted nearly eight months, lacked adequate support from the hospital. She sought legal aid and has undergone psychological treatment due to the trauma.

The hospital, however, responded by stating that it activated its care mechanism immediately after the alleged incident. They arranged for a male nurse to cover Ms. Li's shifts, involved the police, and continuously offered support through the human resources department. The hospital also mentioned informing Ms. Li about available psychological counseling services and that a head nurse accompanied her to the police station to file the report. The case is currently being investigated by the Yilan District Prosecutors Office for violations of the Medical Act and the Sexual Harassment Prevention Act.